We spend a lot of time watching the City Council at work
– attending council meetings and study sessions – talking to
them on the phone, watching them at public and private events. When
Councilman Greg Sellers said he wanted to challenge four-term Mayor
Dennis Kennedy for the two-year job, we wondered why.
We spend a lot of time watching the City Council at work – attending council meetings and study sessions – talking to them on the phone, watching them at public and private events.
When Councilman Greg Sellers said he wanted to challenge four-term Mayor Dennis Kennedy for the two-year job, we wondered why.
Sellers said it was time for a change.
Then Councilmen Larry Carr and Steve Tate lined up behind Sellers, saying they thought it was time for a change, too. This gave us pause since Tate and Carr see the two men in action in ways non-council members can never do.
But, as we have watched and considered, we have come to the conclusion that it is indeed time for a change. Carr said in an interview with The Times that we have “countless things to thank Dennis for” but it’s a new era and new direction is needed.
The two contenders differ on how to deal with Coyote Valley development. Sellers is willing to sue if necessary to get San Jose’s attention on this issue so important to the community’s future. Kennedy backs away from talk of a lawwuit, saying he will rely on his relationship with San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales to safeguard Morgan Hill’s interests. Sellers says such reliance is a shaky platform and wants a more certain set of “tools.”
Both agree they differ in leadership styles. Kennedy describes himself as thoughtful and deliberate; Sellers calls more dynamic and aggressive.
They also differ on whether the mayorship is a full-time job. With an $800 a month stipend, the city does not think so but Kennedy says because he is retired he can spend much more time on city business. Sellers says, done efficiently, the work can be done well part-time. It’s a part-time job.
Voters will decide which view they want to take them forward.
While we recognize Kennedy’s hard and considerate work for the city over his years in office, we look forward to new energy in the job. Morgan Hill, especially its downtown, is poised on the brink of a new era; let Sellers have a chance.
We recommend Sellers to voters on Nov. 2.
